Record sheet holder



March 3, 1953 F. A. NIEMANN ETAL 2,

' RECORD SHEET HOLDER Filed Dec. 25, 1949 2 SHEETS-SHEET 1 38w are-- i iN Q'\ 1, 79 1.9 4@-"-""F M i: 15/, I I /G I hi 3J5. v 1

i x l l6 9 g f z INVENTORS.

""""""" fieaerzckA/Wema/m I BY Bay/wand J kba/z Mam}! 1953 F. A. NIEMANNETAL 2,630,121

- RECORD SHEET HOLDER Filed Dec. 25, 1949 2 SHEETS-SPEET 2 cient.

Patented Mar. 3, 1953 UNITED STATES FATENT OFFICE RECORD SHEET HOLDERFrederick A. Niemann, Chicago, and Raymond J. Koch, Winnetka, 11L,assignors to Felt & Tarrant Manufacturing Company, Chicago, 111., acorporation of Illinois Application December 23, 1949, Serial No.134,666

Similar devices for facilitating the distribution of accounts aredescribed and illustrated in United States Letters Patent No. 2,033,147,issued March 10, 1936, and No. 2,397,685, issued April 2, 1946, whichmaintain a plurality of rec ord strips in desired parallel andoverlapping relationship, with only a certain vertical column or columnsof numerical data on each side of each strip exposed, to enable lateraladdition or extension of the corresponding item in the various columns,with the assistance of a line guide or T-square. These prior devicesinclude sheet clamping means, comprising a backing plate havingupstanding pegs for receiving the sheets or record strips and a holdingmember cooperating with the pegs to retain the record sheets thereon,together with a board or backing support having a pair of pins adjacentits upper edge for receiving and positioning the sheet clamping meansthereon and providing a lateral edge for guiding the T-square. However,the pins for receiving and positioning the sheet clamping means of suchprior devices have been disposed only adjacent the upper edge of thebacking support or board, so that the shorter the length of difierentrecord strips with which the devices are used, the more of the work oflateral extension must be done near the top of the board. Since thisupper portion of the board necessarily is that part spaced. farthestfrom the hand and eyes of the operator or person performing thecross-addition, work thereon is considerably harder and more tiring onthe operator than that performed at the central and lower portions ofthe board.

A. principal object of the instant invention, therefore, is to enablethe performance of most of the cross-addition or lateral extension ofitems at the central and lower portions of the board or backing supportof such a device for the distribution of accounts, regardless of thelength of the record strips being used, in order to make such workeasier on the operator and render its performance faster and more elli-Thls is accomplished by providing novel pins, for receiving and properlypositioning the record strip holding or sheet clamping means,

that are removably positionable at selectively different points on theboard or backing support spaced downwardly different distances from the2 Glaim's. (Cl. 129-1) upper edge thereof to enable mounting of any of aplurality of difierent lengths of record strips on the board with theirlower ends adjacent the lower edge of the board.

Another object is to enable ready reversal of the record sheets andtheir holding or clamping means on the backing support, or board in anyselected position of the receiving pins. In the prior devices previouslyreferred to, such reversal was permitted because the sheet clampingmeans was mountable only on the upper edge of the board so that theholding member cooperating with the pegs on the backing plate couldfreely overhang the upper edge of the board when in reversed positionthereon. The removable pins of the present invention are so constructedthat they cooperate with the backing strip of the sheet clamping meansto retain the latter in reversed position on the board, even when thepins are not disposed in their uppermost position directly adjacent theupper edge of the board, and despite the backing strip being required inits other position on the board to assume an angular or other thanhorizontal position, when reversed, because of the sheetreceiving pegsand holding member thereon.

A further object of this invention is to facilitate selectivepositioning of the removable pins on the board or backing support byproviding pin-receiving bushings in suitable locations on the boardwhich are flush with the upper surface thereof, so as not to interferewith the record sheets and line guide when not in use, and which areprovided with means cooperating with the upper portion of a pin toprevent rotation thereof relative to a separable lower portion of thepin to enable an operator to separate or attach the two portions of thepin with one hand.

Numerous other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparentas it is better understood from the following description, which, whentaken in connection with the accompanying drawings, discloses apreferred embodiment thereof,

In the drawings:

Figure l is a plan view, with parts broken away, of a record sheetholder embodying the features of the instant invention and showing aplurality of record sheets or strips held in parallel and overlappingrelationship;

Fig. 2 is a side elevational view, as seen from the left end of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a detail elevaticnal view, as seen from the bottom of thedevice of Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is an enlarged vertical section, taken 3 substantially on theline 44 of Fig. 1, and showing the sheet clamping or holding means inobverse position at the upper edge of the backin 7 support;

Fig. 5 is a View similar to Fig. 4, with the pin for holding the sheetclamping means in elevation, showing the sheet clamping means in reverseposition at the upper edge of the backing support;

Fig. 6 is a view similar to Fig. 5 showing the removable pin forreceiving the sheet clamping means disposed in a selected position otherthan that adjacent the upper edge of the backing support, with the sheetclamping means retained thereby in reverse position on the board;

Fig. 7 is a top plan view of the upper sleeve of one of the pins forpositioning the record sheet clamping means on the backing support;

Fig. 8 is an elevational view of the upper sleeve of the pin shown inFig. 7, with a portion thereof in vertical section; and Fig. 9 is a topplan view of one of the bushings mounted in the backing support forreceiving the pins for positioning the record sheet clamping means.

Referring more particularly to Fig. 1 of the drawings, reference numeralll indicates a backing support or board of any suitable constructionwhich is generally similar to that iilustrated in Patents No. 2,033,147and No. 2,397,685, previously cited. Along its left-hand edge, thisboard H is provided with a metal channel member 12 secured along itsinner side to the bottom surface of the board by suitable screws l3(Fig, 3), and terminating at its outer side in an upstanding flangewhich cooperates with a suitable slot [4 in the head portion l5 of aline guide or T-square it. The board ll also is provided with aplurality of supporting means or feet I! (Fig. 2) to maintain thesacking support in proper position upon the work surface of a desk ortable in spaced relationship thereto, for a purpose to be later morefully explained. The backing support ll also may be provided with a pairof elongated, folding leg members is adjacent its upper edge similar tothose illustrated in U. S. Letters Patent Nos. 2,123,980 or 2,127,981,both issued August 23, 1938. The construction of these legmembers i8 issuch, as explained in these patents, that they may readily be disposedeither in a folded position in substantially parallel relationship tothe backing support, wherein the feet il will prevent contact thereofWith the desk or other supportin surface, or in the extended position ofFig. 2 wherein they are perpendicular to the backing support andfunction to maintain the latter in an angular position on the supportingwork surface or desk.

As a novel feature of the instant backing support or board il, aplurality of bushings H) are mounted therein adjacent each lateral edge(big. 1) which are arranged in transversely aligned pairs spaced fromeach other longitudinally of the board, with the upper such pairdisposed adjacent the upper edge of the board. As best seen in Figs. 6and 9, each of these bushings i9 is mounted in a suitable aperture H inthe backing support H, which is countersunk at its upper end to receivethe flared upper end 22 of the bushing, these parts being so dimensionedthat the upper end surface of the bushing is flush with the top surfaceof the board ll. This flared upper end 22 of each bushing is providedwith a pair of diametrically opposed recesses 23, for a purpose to belater described, which maybe milled, in the manner illustrated in brokenlines in Fig. 6, or otherwise suitably formed therein. After beingmounted in an aperture ii, a suitable Washer 2 is placed on the lowerend of each of these bushings ill, and such lower end portion is spun,upset, or otherwise spread outwardly to its position of Fig. 6 to firmlyengage the washer 24 and retain the bushing in assembled position in themanner of a rivet. To facilitate such displacement, this lower endportion of the bushin I9 is reduced in thickness, and this reducedportion terminates at its upper end to define an annular shoulder 5which will be disposed substantially in the plane of the lower surfaceof the backing support ii when the bushing is so mounted in an apertureill therein.

The instant record sheet holder also comprises a record sheet clampingor holding means indicated generally by reference numeral 25, generallysimilar to that illustrated in the two first cited prior patents anddesignated in No. 2,033,147 by reference numeral H and in No. 2,397,685by reference numeral 12. This clamping means 26 comprises a backingplate 2i having a plurality of sheet-receiving pegs 23 (Figs. 1 and 4 to6) upstanding therefrom and arranged in transverse alignment at regular?spaced intervals. These pegs 28 are adapted to receive a multiplicity ofrecord sheets or strips 2% and'maintain the same in desired parallel andoverlapping relationship, the record sheets being provided with suitableaperturesadjaccnt their upper ends to facilitate impaling the same onthe pegs. As will be appreciated by those skilled in the art, each ofthese record sheets 28 may be provided with a plurality of verticalcolumns in which numerical data are entered. and the overlappingassembly of the strips will result in only a certain one or more of suchcolumns of each strip being exposcd to facilitate lateral addition orextension of the correspond ing items in the various columns of theseveral strips. The record sheet holding means 2d also includes achannel-shaped holding member which may be pressed down over the pegs tofrictionally engage the latter to retain the several record sheets 25 inproper position thereon. The backing plate 27 of the record sheetclamping means 2 .3 is provided adjacent each end with a notch 32 in itslower or forward edge. The inner portion of each of these notches 32 issubstantially circular and is countersunk from both sides of the backingplate (Fig. 5), while the outer portion thereof flares outwardly, beingwider at its outer end and.

narrower at its inner end than the diameter of such circular innerportion. The edges of this outer portion of the notch or keyhole-shapedslot 32 are bevelled from both sides of the backing plate (Fig. 5) atthe same angle as the a ssociated countersinking of the circular innerporl5! therein, which comprises a pair of pins, indicated generally byreference numeral 33, removably mountable in desired ones of thebushings :9. As best seen in Fig. 4, each of these pins comprises anupper portion made up of a sleeve mounted therein, and a lower portionin the form of a sleeve 3t. Intermediate its ends, the rodlike bodyportion 35 is provided with an enlarged flange t'i bevelled at the sameangle as the keyhole slots and the upper end of the bore of the uppersleeve 3% is slightly countersunk at this same angle (Figs. 7 and 8) toreceive the lower end of this bevelled iiange tl. lhe lower end of therod-like body portion 35 has a washer 38 (Fig. l) mounted thereon andretained in any suitable manner,-as by means of a pin and slotconnection and a coil spring ii is mounted thereon between this washerand the lower end of the sleeve 3 This spring thus resiliently maintainsthe lower end or" the flange 3? seated in the upper countersunk end ofthe bore of the sleeve, while permitting, but resisting, upward movementor" the rod 35 relative to the sleeve The rod 35 terminates in an upperend ii: of somewhat greater diameter than the main body portion thereof,the diameter and length or this end portion 2 bearing a specificrelationship to the dimensions of the record sheet clamping means andparticularly the keyhole notches 32 in the backing plate 27, in a mannerto be later explained in detail.

As best seen in Fig. 8, the upper end of the upper sleeve 3 terminatesin a flange or head portion shaped to conform to the countersunk orflared upper ends 22 of the bushings it, including diametrically opposedand downwardly and outwardly extending lugs 43 adapted to be seated in,and engaged by, the recesses 23 of the bushings. The main body portionof this sleeve 36 has an outer diameter slightly less than that of thebore of the bushings l9, and threaded on its outer surface at it at itslower end. The bore of the lower sleeve 3% is complementally threaded ortapped at its upper end to receive this lower threaded end ill or" theupper sleeve 3&- (Fig. 4), and the outer surface of this lower sleevepreferably is knurled, as indicated at 45 in Fig. 5, to facilitateengagement disengagement of the two sleeves comprising the pin Suchengagement or assembly and disengagement or detachment of the upper andlower portions of each pin 33 requires operator to use only one hand,the interengagenient of the lugs :33 in the recesses 25 preventingrotation of the upper portion of the pin when the latter is dropped intoor disposed within one of the bushings l9. Since the shoulder eachbushing it is disposed. a predetermined distance below the upper endthereof, mounting oi a pin in any one or" the bushings is, as shown inl, will result in the flange Eli and upper end s2 thereoibeing disposedin predeter ned relationship relative to the upper of the backingsupport or board ii.

Use is made of the above described record sheet holder in the followingmanner. The several record sheets 25, containing the items which it isdesired to extend or cross add, first are mounted in proper overlappingrelationship on a backing strip 2? by means the apertures in the upperends of the strips impaled upon the pins at to expose those columns ofthe strips containing the items to be add d, the clamping or holdingmember ti being over the pegs 2s. The backing support or board 5 l isthen placed on the work surface or either with the foldable legs E8extended in their position of Fig. 2 or retracted parallel with theboard, as

6. best suits the convenience or the operator. It will be understoodthat when the legs it are in folded position, the feet IT at the upperedge of the board will support the latter on the work surface, the legsis folding above the plane through the lower surface of such supportingfeet. Depending upon the length of the particular record sheets 29 fromwhich the data is to be taken, the operator will position the pins 33 inthe proper bushings is. As previously noted, several pairs ofhorizontally aligned bushlugs 19 are provided which are disposed inspaced relationship from the upper edge of the board ll corresponding tothe different standard lengths of record sheets 29 customarily employed.It will be understood also that the vertical length or" the backingsupport H is determined by the maximum length of strip used, and thepair of bushings l9 spaced farthest from the upper edge of the board arearranged in accordance with the length of the shortest record strips 2:?to be employed. In the assembly illustrated in Fig. 1, since the recordsheets 25 approach the maximum length for which the backing support 1 Iis designed to be used, the pins 33 have been mounted in the uppermostpair of bushings 19 adjacent the upper edge of the backing support.

It being assumed that the operator desires to distribute items on theobverse surfaces of these record strips 29, the sheet clamping means itin which the strips are held is engaged with the pins 33 in the mannerbest illustrated in Fig. 4. Such engagement is accomplished merely bysliding the clamping means 26 forwardly or downwardly to engage the pins3;. in the notches Since the rearinost or narrowest end or the outer,flared portion of each of these notches 32 is narrower than the diameterof the inner, circular portion of these notches, such engagement of theclamping means 22s with the pins 33 will result in lifting of therod-like body portion of each pin against the action of its spring Illas such nar rowest portion of the associated slot engages the lowerbevelled surface of the pin flange 3'1. Continued forward or downwardmovement of the sheet clamping means 26 will result in the rods 35 ofthe pins 33 being seated by their springs ll in the innermost, circularportions of the slots 32, as illustrated in Fig. 4. In such position,the pins 33 function to maintain the clamping means it and the recordsheets engaged thereby proper alignment on the backing support Ii, sothat the corresponding items in the various columns or the record stripswill be aligned with each other lat-rally oi the backing support. Theline guide or T-souare I5 is then placed in operative position, asillustrated in Fig. l, with the laterally extending straight-edgeportion thereof disposed above the several record sheets is. In thisconnection, it should be noted that the head iii of the T-souare I8 isprovided with a cutout portion it along the upper surface of its inneredge to insure clearance between this part of the T-square and thelefthand end portion or" the sheet clamping means it when the T-souareis moved upwardly from its position of Fig. l for use in lateralextension of the items appearing on the strips adjacent the upperthereof. Since the bushings it are mounted in the manner previouslydescribed with their upper ends flush with the top surface or thebacking support 5 they will not interfere with vertical movements of theT-square durin the process of cross-addition of the various itemsappearing upon the record strips.

' position of Fig. 5, with the passing Such arrangement of the recordstrips on the clamping means 25 not only exposes the desired columns onthe upper surfaces thereof, but likewise exposes corresponding columnson the reverse sides or" the strips. Consequently, the operator maydistribute such items merely by reversing the position of the recordstrips and the clamping means it to expose such reverse sides. When theretaining pins 33 are disposed in the uppermost pair or" bushings it asillustrated in Figs. 1 and i, this reversal may be accomplished merelyby sliding the clamping means it upwardly to disengage the same from thepins, turning the clamping means over end-ior-end, and rc-engaging thenotches with the pins 33 in the manner illustrated in Fig. 5. Suchengagement of the record strip clamping means 26 with the pins isenabled by virtue of the uppermost pair of bushings it; being disposedadjacent the upper edge of the backing support ii, so as to provideclearance for the pegs 23 and holding member 3i beyond the upper end ofthe backing support. It should be noted also that the feet 7 ll aresumciently long not only to prevent contact of the holding member tiwith the work surface, when the clamping means 28 is disposed in thisreversed position at the upper edge the backing support as illustratedin Fig. 5, but also prevent contact of the lower ends of the pins 33with the work surface.

Whenever it is desired to use the instant recrd sheet holder with strip29 of shor =1 length, it i necessary only for the operator to unscrewthe lower sleeve .36 of each pin from upper sleeve 3%, lift the upperportion of the pin out of the bushing ill in which it was mounted, dropthe same into one of the pairs of bushings selected according to theparticular length of the record sheets as next to be used, and re-engagethe lower sleeve 3t with the upper portion of the pin. Such separationand reassembly of the two portions of a pin 33 may be accomplished bythe operator with the use of only one hand because engagement of thelugs is on the upper sleeve 3 1 with the recesses 23 in the bushings itprevents rotation of the upper sleeve. t also should be noted that theupper sleeve 3%, rod 35 and spring ii of each pin 33 always are retainedin assembled relationship, that this upper of the pin may readily belifted from, or inserted into, any of the bushings 59. When mountedposition, as shown in Fig. 4:, the lower sleeve also functions to rotectthe spring and the lower end or" the upper portion or" the pin againstpossible physical damage.

When mounted in any pair of bushings 5% other than the uppermost ones,the pins will engage the slots 32 of the record heet Tooling means inthe manner illustrated in 1 and ii when the clamping means and thestrips retained thereby are in their obverse position on the board.However, it is not possible for the record clamping means to assume itsrevs plate parallel to the board i i, if it is desired to reverse therecord sheets 28 on the backing support when the pins are in any suchposition other than in engagement with the uppermost of bu3..-- ingsSuch reversal may be accomplished, nevertheless, and the record sheetclamp g means 255 securely retained in reversed po ion by virtue of theupper end portions provided on each of the pins The record stripclamping means 26 is shown in Fig. 6 in such reversed position inengagement with a pin is, when the iii) iii.

latter is mounted in one of the lower bushings From this figure it willbe noted that this upper end portion 32 of the pin 33 is so dimensionedwith relation to the dimensions of the record sheet holder that, whenthe latter is resting on a backing support in reverse position with itsforward edge and the holding member 3| functioning as a supporttherefor, the upper end 62 of the pin 33 is sufiiciently long to passupwardly through the innermost circular portion of a slot 3.. At thesame time, by virtue of the bevelling or counter-sinking or" thiscircular portion of the slot 32 at the angle therein illustrated (whichis the same angle as that of the bevels on flange ill of the pin), thisupper portion 52 of the pin will be firmly embraced or engaged by suchcircular portion of the slot 32, and the walls of the latter will haveplanar, rather than linear, contact therewith at the front and rear sideof the pin (the left and right side thereof, as seen in Fig. 6). It willbe appreciated, of course, that the clamping means 26 may not he slidforwardly (to the right in Fig. 6) into such engagement with the pins33, because the slots 32 are narrower at their intermediate portionsthan the diameter of the upper ends d2 of the pins. The reverseengagement of the clamping means 25 with the pins, as illustrated inFig. 6, nevertheless may be readily accomplished merely by placing thesame downwardly thereon.

As noted, when the sheet clamping means 26 is in its obverse position,as illustrated in Fig. 4, or its reverse position at the upper edge ofthe backing support as'shown in Fig. 5, the pins 33 will preventaccidental displacement thereof from the backing support, because theintermediate, narrowest portions of the notches 32 in the backing plate27 are of less width than the diameter Of that portion of the flanges 31of the rods 35 engaged in the inner, circular portions of the notches.Consequently, the springs 4! offer sufiicient resistance to preventunintentional rearward sliding of the backing plate 27, because suchsliding of the backing plate will require upward cainming of the rods 35against the action or the springs All. The clamping device 26 mayreadily be removed intentionally from the backing support, however, bylifting the same slightly relative thereto as it is slid rearwardlytherefrom, which will facilitate disengagement of the flanges 3? fromthe inner portion of the slots 32. In the reversed position of theclamping device 25 illustrated in Fig. 6, rearward sliding thereofrelative to the backing support i! (to the left in this figure) isprevented by virtue of the narrowest, inter- V mediate portion of theslots 32 being of a width less than. the diameter of the upperextensions :32 of the pins 33. Intentional removal or the record sheetclamping means 25 from this position on the backing support may beaccomplished, however, merely by lifting the same from engagement withthe pins 33.

It is thought that the invention and its attendant advantages will beunderstood from the foregoing description, and it will be apparent thatvarious changes may be made in the form, construction and arrangement ofthe without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention orsacrificing all of its material advantagea'the form hereinbeforedescribed illustrated in the drawings being merely a preferredembodiment.

We claim:

1. In a record sheet holder including a record sheet clamping member anda backing support therefor having an aperture therethrough; a retainingdevice mountable in said aperture in the backing support to maintain therecord sheet clamping member in proper position thereon, comprising amain body member having means formed integrally with the upper endthereof for engaging the clamping member, an upper sleeve positionablein the aperture in the backing support and slidably engaging the centralportion of said body member, means on said upper sleeve to preventpassage thereof through said aperture, spring means mounted on the lowerend of said main body member for resiliently interconnecting the sameand said upper sleeve, and a lower sleeve screw-threadedly engaging saidupper sleeve for cooperation with the backing support to secure theupper sleeve in the aperture therein and covering said spring means toprevent injury thereto.

2. In a record sheet holder including a record sheet clamping member anda backing support therefor having an aperture therethrough; a, retainingdevice mountable in said aperture in the backing support to maintain therecord sheet clamping member in proper position thereon, comprising amain body member having means formed integrally with the upper endthereof for engaging the clamping member, an upper sleeve positionablein the aperture in the backing support and slidably engaging the centralportion of said body member, spring means mounted on the lower end ofsaid body member for resiliently connecting the same and said uppersleeve, a lower sleeve screw-threadedly engageable with said uppersleeve for cooperation with the backing support to secure the uppersleeve in the aperture therein, and interengageable lugs and recesses onsaid upper sleeve and the backing support to prevent passage of saidupper sleeve through said aperture and to facilitate attachment anddetachment of said lower sleeve by preventing rotation of said uppersleeve when the same is positioned in the :aperture in the backingsupport.

FREDERICK A. NIEMANN.

RAYMOND J. KOCH.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 864,254 Perkins Aug. 27, 19071,340,387 Emmert May 18,. 1920 1,458,713 Levy June 12, 1923 2,026,245Niemann Dec. 31, 1935 2,061,878 Niemann Nov. 24, 1936 2,134,177 EllisOct. 25, 1938 2,372,904 McCarthy Apr. 3. 1945

